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For Â鶹AV (LU) senior Diana Resendez, marketing has always meant more than advertising or strategy. It’s about helping others tell their story.

“I have always had a desire to help businesses and individuals with their community engagement and to get the word out about what their mission and values are,” she said.

Resendez, who grew up in Southeast Texas, chose to stay close to home for college so she could work full-time while pursuing her degree. Â鶹AV was her first choice, and she describes her time at LU as transformative.

“My time here has been the most amazing experience, and I would not change it for anything else,” she said. “I made life-long friendships and relationships with my fellow classmates and professors.”

Among her most meaningful experiences at LU has been her leadership in the Â鶹AV Hispanic Society (LUHS).

“Being president for an organization that truly speaks about who I am, what my culture is, and being able to build a relationship with anyone I meet is what made me feel confident in who I am,” Resendez said. “Community engagement is the biggest thing for me because I am able to connect others within their needs.”

That passion for service has taken her to Austin, where she is interning for Rep. Aicha Davis during the legislative session. The fast-paced workdays begin early and cover everything from constituent services to preparing materials for committee hearings.

“If it was a Tuesday, I would go in earlier, around 7 a.m., and put together the binder Rep. Davis uses for committee hearings,” she said. “I print out all of the bills that will be heard and highlight any important information she may need to be aware of.”

She also contributes to the office’s social media, creating posts that reflect the representative’s work in the community.

“In the first half of the session, I worked on the social media aspect of public service. I was able to create meaningful posts and content that was related to her and what she does for her community. Although I needed more practice, I was still able to gain some kind of experience with my chief,” she said.

The chance to work at the Capitol, Resendez explains, stems in part from the inspiration she found in the classroom. She credits several faculty members with sparking the interest that led her to Austin.

“Dr. Marleen Swerdlow and Dr. Maegan Collins have helped me spark interest in policy, government, and history about our nation, and they taught me about it previously in class, which supported the tasks I needed to do during my internship,” Resendez said.

For Resendez, the internship has been a turning point in building confidence.

“Confidence was something I struggled with before the internship,” she said. “I learned I’m good at things like engaging in networking, creating graphics for her social media, and being able to multitask.”

Mentors at LU, Resendez says, have helped shape her journey and encouraged her to aim higher.

“Dr. [Hector] Flores has been the best at pushing me to my limits for the better, and I would not have had the chance to apply to the internship if it wasn’t for him. He has been such a great mentor to me since my freshman year while I was joining LUHS,” she said. “Dr. [Tilisa] Thibodeaux has been another great mentor during my internship, and she has always been so supportive of the work I do. No matter if I’m working or not, I have always had the best support from her.”

She says that same encouragement and understanding extended beyond campus through her time working with Rep. Davis.

“I cannot express my gratitude towards her. Whether it’s the work I have done or not, she always completely understands what I go through. She has a special place in my heart, and I am incredibly grateful for working for her,” she said.

Mentorship, she added, is about guidance, and it’s something she hopes to offer to others.

“I think everyone needs at least one person to be their mentor, and it will truly motivate you into doing anything you’ve ever dreamed of,” she said. “I hope to be a mentor to anyone I have come across and that it pays off for them.”

Looking ahead, Resendez plans to stay local after graduation, pursue a master’s degree in marketing, and continue working in a role that allows her to serve her community. She also hopes to take a short break to travel before starting the next chapter.

Her advice for students who want to follow a similar path is simple: “Show up. Even if you’re unsure, show up. You don’t need to be confident, just curious.”

And when it comes to staying motivated through long days and new challenges, Resendez turns to her faith.

“God motivates me every day to live this beautiful life he has given me,” she said.